This week, director Edward Berger delivered a disappointing blow to fans of the Bourne spy thriller franchise when he revealed that work on the upcoming sixth installment has stalled, raising questions about whether Matt Damon will reprise his iconic role as Jason Bourne.
Berger, who directed the new Bourne film last year, revealed in an interview that he is not currently working on the project and is uncertain if he will ultimately helm the sequel. Berger cited other commitments that will keep him busy until at least next summer, leaving the future of Bourne 6 in limbo.
“Well, it’s not clear whether I’m doing it right now,” Berger explained. “And I really don’t know what I will do in the future.”
The director went on to explain that for him to take on the Bourne franchise, he would need to have a compelling new angle or story that could live up to the high bar set by the previous Bourne films directed by Paul Greengrass.
Berger stated, “You need a new agenda to bring that back; otherwise, there’s really no reason.” “You can only bring it back if you have something new to tell or add.” That would probably also be Matt Damon’s only reason to come back.”
Damon, who has played the amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne in five of the six Bourne films to date, would likely need to be equally satisfied with the creative direction of a new installment before agreeing to return to the role.
The Bourne franchise, based on the Robert Ludlum novels, has been a lucrative one for Universal Pictures, with the first four films starring Damon grossing over $1 billion worldwide. However, the series has been dormant since 2016’s Jason Bourne, which received a lukewarm critical reception.
Berger’s comments suggest that Universal may struggle to bring the franchise back to life, at least in the near future. The director’s uncertainty over his involvement, as well as the need to find a compelling new angle, could prove to be significant hurdles.
For now, Bourne fans will have to wait and see if Damon and the studio can come together to deliver a sixth installment that lives up to the high standard set by the previous films in the series. With Berger’s hesitation, the future of the Bourne franchise appears increasingly uncertain.